PATRIOTSFANINPA

After watching what I thought was the best performance in Manning's career against the Vikings on sunday I don't think the Colts would have the luxury of being able to play well and overcoming the loss of Peyton because I think the Indy defense is just not as good as New England's

Peyton was beat up,mangled and dodging Viking's defensive backs and linemen all game but got up,dusted himself off and directed drives to be able to put Indy in position to win that game after not getting much help and trailing 15-0 into the 3rd quarter.

While the defense had a few takeovers to help the Colts win, I think if Sorgi was in there it simply would have been way too much to overcome.

While I am not saying this season will be successful right now because Cassel is still very raw and the team is untested against better teams,I still think this team should be able to consistently put a solid defense on the field to keep New England within reach of most games while I just think the Indy defense would be overwhelmed with trying to keep the Colts offense with Sorgi in command in the same position.

I think this season answers the question that the Colts would be destroyed without Peyton - The Patriots are hurting but still able to play well so far despite the fact that it was 2 scrub teams they beat

Even though I can't stand the guy as a player,I gained respect for Manning after what he said with class regarding Brady and I was even more impressed how he practically took victory from the hands of defeat on sunday almost as if it was a one man show on offense - it was masterful and so Brady-Like,its amazing how Brady and Manning are so similar and special in a sport today which lacks QBs with the Balls to do stuff like this consistently and great.

Without Brady the Patriots could still win 10 games
Without Manning the Colts would be picking in the top 10 in the draft

Cartwright

It's a double edge sword, isn't it. We feel Manning is the greatest, but we like to feel our team can perform as well. In the end though, I think this team does have a tougher time winning w/o PM than NE does w/o TB.

We must note that Lilja and Saturday were out. Projected rookie starter Pollak were all out on the O-Line. Ugoh is becoming a chronically injured LT, but he went out 2nd quarter. Clark out. Of course, the D-Line up the middle is laughable, but that has nothing to do with Sorgi/PM, other than it would be harder to call upon them to 'stuff the run' with any consistency. With a fully healthy 'other' 21, I still think we compete, but a fully healthy 'other' 21 for the Pats most likely win more games. Flip our schedules this season, and I wouldn't agree.

Rob0729

Right now, I am not convinced the Colts are going to win 10 games with Peyton. They have a lot of problems all over the place.

Joseph Addai hasn't had a 100 yard rushing game since he played the Pats the first week of November last year (in fact, his best rushing effort since then was 72 yards and a TD against KC). Yet, people talk about the guy's consistency eventhough he has been the antithesis of consistent since he entered the league. He is a stud for half the season and a dud for the other half.

Their run defense is as bad or worse than it was in 2006. The DT poisition is going to be a huge problem for them going on in the season. They are just too small handle bigger backs. I personally expect the Pats to use a lot of Morris and Jordan on them when they meet in November.

Their o-line have some major issues especially up the middle. Teams being able to rush up the middle on a pocket passer like Manning is poison to him.

I think in other years, the Colts would be more equiped to weather the storm without Manning. Although I don't think there was a single year where their entire team wasn't build all around him. Now that their top heavy salary cap has destroyed their depth at a lot of positions, I think they would be a 3-13 team without Manning.

The Patriots make Brady the center point. But since they do not make their salary cap top heavy like the Colts, they are far better equipped to weather the loss. They have depth at most positions and solid players throughout.

Cartwright

Colts have as much talent as they have ever had in PM's career. The weakest link on D is the interior D Line. Ed Johnson didn't help that out. I think a healthy Booger and Big Ed would have rounded out the D quite nicely. As it were, yeah, it's going to be a tough go stopping the run for the Colts. They were 12-4 not stopping the run 2 years ago. If the O-Line gets shored up, and Manning gets some mobility back, they should be fine.

KontradictioN

And yet, you guys that are saying this would go into another thread in an instant and the say that the superior talent around Manning is the reason why he wins games.

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lamafist

I'm seriously confused by all the praise Manning is getting for the Colts' comeback win in Minnesota.

I know the line was banged up, I know that the running game wasn't doing much, but seriously -- the Colts had thirteen drives against a Vikings team whose secondary got carved up all last year, and again last week, by a QB making his first NFL start, and what was the result? Two decent TD drives. That's really it.

In the first half, the Colts picked up more than 1 first down and more than 20 yards in exactly ONE drive, and the poor field position this caused led to many of Minnesota's points. After starting the 2nd half with another 4 play drive, the Colts finally were able to take advantage of Minnesota's blown coverage, and got to the goal line with one big play.

So far, have we seen anything that Sorgi couldn't do? Nope. So what does Manning do next? Fail to significantly advance the ball when their defense gives it to them at the Minnesota 28. So far, is there anything to praise Manning for other than one fluke play?

How 'bout what could have been a game-clinching INT in the 4th if the Vikings could capitalize? Could Sorgi not have done that?

Finally, we get to Manning's one good drive, going 60 yards in 3 plays. Vintage Manning -- but the only time he looked at all impressive all game, considering that the big play that one them the game was Tim Jenning's balletic downing of the ball on the 1 in punt coverage. The defense again was stiff, and got the Colts offense the ball at midfield.

Sorry, exactly where was all of this Manning greatness? Where was this "willing his team to win" that I've heard pundits talking about? What I saw was a defense that, in the 2nd half, adjusted to the fact that the Vikings have no passing game to speak of, and kept the Vikings from putting the game out of reach long enough for the Colts offense to show a few signs of life against a just-adequate secondary.

SVN

everyone had bad games. safe to say whatver adjustment the colts made on defense, the could not have won without manning and childress on the other side.

SVN

people talk about colts D all the time. They were never good except last yr. Colts are always an offensive team which can play from ahead. once manning gets in sync and resolves the o line issues and they get back saturday and clark they will just fine. We dont want to accept it but that is most likely to happen in my opinion. if this were the 10th week of the season with this kind of play then colts should be worried. colts also a bye early-same week as us - so they will get together and sort all this out. their defense will be just adequate enough. their offense will pick up again .

ScottieC

Everyone has bad games, agreed. The Colts just had two in a row.

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Let them all talk - Haters Hate, that's what they do - We have three Lombardi's, how about you?

lamafist

Well, they certainly needed SOMEONE at QB. I'm just not sure that ONLY manning could lead one prolonged scoring drive all game against the Vikings.